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So all you WRX guys out there....

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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
I have an 04 WRX wagon, and I'm starting to get interested in all the mods out there but I know very little about cars.  I would like to take a look at doing something that could upgrade horsepower and/or fuel economy, but I really don't even know where to start.  (Nothing to crazy expensive to start, and I would rather it be something that isn't going to kill my ability to sell if I chose to do so).  So basically my questions are:

-What's the best project to get your feet wet for a newb (I will have help from a knowledgeable person for sure, so don't worry)

-I looked at performance chips and exhaust systems, any comments on practicality, cost, or recommended items?

-Anything out there I should look at that I didn't mention, and about how much HP could I add with some of this simple stuff?

Thanks a ton in advance, and for the record I looked at Scoobymods, I'm just not sure where to even start on that site.  Maybe I missed a thread that explains all this...
Jul 10 2009 4:21PM
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T-Wash
Posts: 1656 - Karma: 37
First I'd suggest looking over at NASIOC.com if you haven't. It has answers to everything. What do you really want to do with the car? Do you want a lot of horse power like 300+ or more? Or do you want handling and suspension? For engine management I'd look into a COBB Accessport. its hands down the best tool right now for tuning. Just remember you gotta pay to play. It costs a lot for mods and tuning. You may even have to have a tune with just a cold air intake. I'd reccomending researching and researching before you do any mods. If you go onto Nasioc.com in the Newbies forum you'll see a sticky called Unabombers Manifesto read it and re read it. Its very helpful and has answers to most questions you'll probably have.
Jul 10 2009 4:38PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Make sure getting a carbon fiber hood isn't the first thing you do. 
Jul 10 2009 4:40PM
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skinakedfast
Posts: 1264 - Karma: 251
hehehe
Jul 10 2009 4:48PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
I have no intention of making it look like a fag-mobile.

Just a possible power upgrade or two just to learn.
Jul 10 2009 4:51PM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 19
Snorkus delete mod.  it will add a bit of horsepower, and shorten the length that air has to flow to your intake.  don't do this AND get new intake though, because that would be completely pointless.

mid/down pipe for your exaust.  probably the first steps to take in modding. 


Jul 10 2009 5:04PM
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little_ey
Posts: 609 - Karma: 392
COLD AIR INTAKE!!!

great fix. Also for about $15 can get a better air filter that helps a little.

Getting new sway bars is also good. But can be expensive
Jul 10 2009 5:06PM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
go to the "Newschoolers lets see your whips" thread and try PMing people that have posted wrx's that have been modded
Jul 10 2009 5:09PM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 19
WRX's already have a kind of cold-air intake.  the snorkus mod will make it that much better.  I would worry about exaust before the intake.  If you want to put the intake frontmount, you have to worry about the size of the pipe.  it will actually take more for the car to breathe, becasue it has to suck through a long straw. 
Jul 10 2009 5:19PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Just following up on this thread after countless hours of research.  I have learned sooooooooooo much from that thread and you are the man.  I came to the conclusion that the Accessport and the exhaust would be a good place to consider starting, and I laughed when I saw that's what you told me from the start, haha.

I would like to add around 50 hp and I will probably add something in the suspension department (still not sure where to start in that area though, so if you guys have tips, please speak up!).  Enough to learn and have fun for sure, but I'm not planning on turning my car inside out.

Thanks again all.
Jul 19 2009 1:09PM
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jsaya_SagStraps
Posts: 1840 - Karma: 29
What are you thinking about suspension? Do you want to go offroad and rally a lot or do you want to drive on street more?

On road, I'd suggest coilovers (these are pretty good for the price, http://www.scoobytuner.com/products/?vApplicationID=3&sfID1=8&sfID2=57&productID=1723),  control arms, stiffer sway bars, and new bushings for the rear subframe,  and an antilift kit. For starters, I'd get new bushings for the rear subframe, it's suprising what 20$ bushings and 45 min can do, and they're really easy to swap.

And whatever, you do, DON'T waste money on strut bars. Sure, they're fairly easy to install and look cool, but until you put in all the stuff I mentioned above, they're not worth it.

Off road, I'd suggest coilovers, and control arms, but you should really keep the stock sway bars if you plan on rallying.

Good luck! You should also check out Checkpoint Racing and Suba Performance if you live near Denver, which I think you do.
Jul 19 2009 4:47PM
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T-Holt
Posts: 5020 - Karma: 639
My threads, a lot of good info in here.
Jul 19 2009 5:20PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Agreed, I haven't done anything to the car performance wise and I've already learned a ton from my research.  I can't wait to get my hands dirty!
Jul 19 2009 5:37PM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79
i know that the snorkus delete on the NA imprezas fucks up your torque in the 1-2k rpm range so you have no power there, is this also true on the wrx?
Jul 19 2009 5:38PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24703 - Karma: 29,680
man.. i'd love it if i could do an STI swap in my 96 GC... it would be teh pwnzorz.

but that would cost about as much as buying a used, newer STI.


Jul 19 2009 5:46PM
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T-Wash
Posts: 1656 - Karma: 37
No its not the same. The WRX has a different intake than the NA imprezas. The 05-07 to my knowledge use a MAF sensor. So when you add a CAI or SRI on a NA Impreza the MAF sensor can't read the Air to Fuel ratio correct causing it to run rich on the 1-2k rpm range. I have minimal problems with CAI/SRI on WRX's.
Jul 19 2009 5:50PM
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ShredTheGnarnia
Posts: 2544 - Karma: 79
yes that is exactly the issue i was talking about. but i forgot about the maf/map difference, could you explain that to me?
Jul 19 2009 6:04PM
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spotter487
Posts: 462 - Karma: 12
my threads for later
Jul 19 2009 6:47PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
What's the point of getting rid of the snorkus other than making the car louder?  That can't have much of an affect on performance can it?
Jul 19 2009 8:42PM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 19
It shortens the length of the air travel into the intake.  deleting the snorkus isnt actually ideal, I dont think, but mending it so that it doesnt go through the labyrinth that is the stock snorkus.  It is simple and cheap, and you can find the part for under 100 bucks and can do the mod yourself with limited wrench skills. 

Keep in mind that I have NOT done this, or any mods to my car.  I have friends that have done it and suggested it was beneficial. 

I recently spun a rod bearing and had to have the  block replaced.  It was under warenty because I took good care of the car, and had no engine modifications. 


Jul 20 2009 3:00PM
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joey.
Posts: 2087 - Karma: 3,337
Jul 20 2009 4:58PM
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Josh_B
Posts: 255 - Karma: 34
Get an intake for starters. Then get an exhaust put on and work your way up to a turbo.
Jul 20 2009 5:15PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
I prefer doing the driver mod first.

http://www.scca.com/contentpage.aspx?content=55

This way you know how to drive most efficiently from the get go and can use the power to it's fullest advantage as well as keep the car under control and not smashed up like so many WRX's and other high-powered inexpensive cars end up.

From there, with any turbo car, your best bang for buck is the exhaust. Forced Induction(FI) cars need to breath much more than a NA car simply because the high volume of air that a FI car sucks and exhales.

As for suspension, a GOOD set of tires will be the best bang for the buck improvement to handling. It's been a while since I've bene buying performance rubber so things may have changed, but there were a few tires that stood out at autocross while still being road-legal. They were Hankook Ventus RS-2's and Falken Azenis used to reign supreme. Like I said though, I've been out of the autocross game for a few years, so I'm sure some other tires have come up in popularity.
Jul 20 2009 6:42PM
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